As per all India
Handloom Census (2009-10), there are 43.31 lakh handloom weavers and allied
workers in the country. State wise list is attached at Annexure.

For the development of handloom weavers, the
government of India has taken up various policy initiatives and interventions
through schemes and programmes such as cluster approach, technological
upgradation, marketing assistance, availability of subsidized yarn and credit
to the individual weaver, besides providing health and life insurance cover to
the handloom weavers.

To ensure
adequate availability of hank Yarn to the handloom sector; the Government has promulgated
the Hank Yarn Packing Notification (HYPN) under the provision of Essential
Commodities Act. As per the notification, 40% cotton yarn has to be packed in
hank form available for use in the handloom sector. The GOI has been providing
marketing assistance to the handloom weavers through exhibitions, expos, craft
melas, urban haats, international fairs and exhibitions etc under the Comprehensive
Handloom Development Scheme.

( Following schemes are being
implemented for the handloom weavers in the XII plan:-